While all you lazy jokers were out there either sleeping off your hangovers or pooping out your McDonalds this morning, Barack Obama was busy being awesome. More specifically, in the time it took you to shower and either brush or not brush your teeth, he blew up the moon and won a freakin’ Nobel Peace Prize…for Peace.
Yes, apparently in the 12 days between his taking office and the deadline for Nobel nominations, Barack Obama accomplished enough to warrant this distinction — either that or some folks in Oslo just hate George W. Bush so much that they’re willing to award this honor to someone who in no way deserves it…no way at all.
So there. The award is stupid. It’s once again been given for political reasons. Obama seems to have handled it pretty humbly — somewhat surprising — and said it’s not about what he’s done, but what he should do.
Still, the right wingers couldn’t help but jump all over it; first it was a great thing that the U.S. lost its Olympic bid, and now it’s a terrible thing that our president won a Nobel Prize. We’ve officially fallen down the rabbit hole. Here’s a sampling:
Over at RedState, Erick Erickson said this:
I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it, but that is the only thing I can think of for this news.
Ugh. That’s racist.
Seriously, that’s actually racist.
Speaking of racist, over at the National Review, the mood is downright…ghey?
Andy McCarthy writes that the award is given by people who “believe America is the problem in the world, the main threat to peace, the impediment to ‘progress,’ etc. The award is a symbolic statement of opposition to American exceptionalism, American might, American capitalism, American self-determinism, and American pursuit of America’s interests in the world.”
Oh, but he wasn’t done!
After a number of years, the NFL renamed its Super Bowl trophy after its most fitting recipient — it’s now called the Vince Lombardi Trophy. I’d like to see the Nobel Foundation follow suit. If today’s headlines said, “Barack Obama Wins Yasser Arafat Prize,” that would be perfect.
Still, as if that weren’t bad enough, and as if we hadn’t had enough of George W. Bush’s “You’re Either With Us Or Against Us” bullshit, now we’ve got the DNC playing the same stupid game. Check out this absolutely terrible nonsense they put out today (this is real):
The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas this morning – in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize,” DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said in a statement.
“Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize – an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride – unless of course you are the Republican Party,” the statement also said. “The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim.”
On the one hand, he’s right — being a party based entirely on the premise of: if it’s bad for Obama, it’s good for us, is terrible. That’s not good for this country or for their party. It’s stupid. But what may be even worse is saying the Republicans are like Hamas or the Taliban. They’re not. At the same time, Obama isn’t like Hitler or Marx. The only thing anyone is like anymore is a petulant child. Everyone is a fat, petulant child.
If only there were a Nobel Prize for that.
I have to admit I pretty much agree with you here. Although at some point in the future Obama could deserve the Nobel Peace Price, I find it virtually impossible to fathom how he deserves this award today; especially in light of the fact that he would have to have been nominated at the latest 11 days into his presidency.
INSANE!
I agree with Kevin, it would be really nice if he got the Prize for some tangible accomplishment…he is a little short on that side.
I would love to be wrong but I think he will be motivated to do something “peaceful”, like stand down in Afghanistan. Actions like that by the US are usually recognized as “peaceful” by the UN and most of the world community.
If millions die later, as happened in Vietnam after “peace” broke out there, Leftist Europeans appear unbothered. John Kerry just went looking for more photo ops and a new wife with more money. Janie Fonda made movies.
This award, as others have noted, is a political statement to inspire Obama to get really “peaceful”. Like, leave the Iranians alone, don’t supply nasty things to the Israelis, etc. He can take the lead by unilaterally disarming the US.
The problem is history proves weakness takes you closer to bloodshed, not further away. And no, I don’t think things are different this time.
You could even give me a unicorn and I would say that.
But I would love to be wrong. That would please me very much.